Pictured is the Hurricane High School Marching Band performing at the Putnam County Homecoming in September.
Thirty-six bands from around the state showcased their talents in the 13th annual West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship University of Charleston Stadium, Laidley Field in Charleston, Saturday, Oct. 26.
Cabell Midland High School won the Overall “Honor Band” Award and Old Gold Division Grand Champion, and Hurricane High School won the Blue Division Grand Champion award. Bands were judged on general effect, marching and maneuvering, music, music effect, percussion, drum major, color guard, majorettes and feature twirler.
Cabell Midland took home the 2024 Governor’s Cup Marching Band Series Championship trophy with a first-place finish in the overall standings. The Governor’s Cup consisted of ten local competitions, along with the Marching Band Invitational finals. Points were awarded at each competition and then the winner was determined by the band who received the most points throughout the series.
Participating bands were Bluefield High School, Bluefield, Mercer County; Braxton County High School, Sutton, Braxton County; Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Buckhannon, Upshur County; Cabell Midland High School, Ona, Cabell County; Calhoun County Middle/High School, Mt. Zion, Calhoun County; Capital High School, Charleston, Kanawha County; Elkins High School, Elkins, Randolph County; Greenbrier East High School, Lewisburg, Greenbrier County; Greenbrier West High School, Charmco, Greenbrier County; Hurricane High School, Hurricane, Putnam County; James Monroe High School, Lindside, Monroe County; Jefferson High School, Shenandoah Junction, Jefferson County; Liberty High School, Clarksburg, Harrison County; Liberty High School, Glen Daniel, Raleigh County; Morgantown High School, Morgantown, Monongalia County; Musselman High School, Inwood, Berkeley County; Nitro High School, Nitro, Kanawha County; North Marion High School, Farmington, Marion County; Paden City High School, Paden City, Wetzel County; Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg, Wood County; Philip Barbour High School, Philippi, Barbour County; PikeView High School, Princeton, Mercer County; Princeton Senior High School, Princeton, Mercer County; Ravenswood High School, Ravenswood, Jackson County; Richwood High School, Richwood, Nicholas County; Robert C. Byrd High School, Clarksburg, Harrison County; St. Marys High School, St. Marys, Pleasants County; Shady Spring High School, Shady Spring, Raleigh County; Summers County Comprehensive High School, Hinton, Summers County; Tyler Consolidated High School, Sistersville, Tyler County; Wayne High School, Wayne, Wayne County; Webster County High School, Upperglade, Webster County; Westside High School, Clear Fork, Wyoming County; Wirt County High School, Elizabeth, Wirt County; Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, Raleigh County; and Wyoming East High School, New Richmond, Wyoming County.
The West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship was sponsored by the WVDACH in participation with the Save The Music Foundation, Conn-Selmer Division of Education, the West Virginia Department of Education and the Higher Education Policy Commission. The State Marching Band Championship helps to promote, encourage and celebrate arts education throughout West Virginia.
